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Back behind the wheel of the Aston Bond drove slowly to the entrance of the tunnel. A
couple of the superlocusts were in his path and as the car approached them they ambled aside with a singular lack
of interest. He pulled up at the entrance to the tunnel, the Aston’s nose pointing down into the depths, and
prayed that the superlocusts would follow him. He looked through the rear window. None of the superlocusts had
moved. He reversed back to within a couple of feet of the nearest of them. It showed not the slightest interest.
Bond’s heart sank. What had worked with the giant rats clearly wasn’t going to work with the superlocusts. He
switched on his mobile phone. M would have to be informed and the contingency plan set into motion. The Pyramid
would be sealed off and three days hence another air strike would be made, this time on the Pyramid building,
with the consequent damage and upheaval to the surrounding area, including a section of the M60 motorway. The
cost would be counted in millions.
Bond had just got through to M when he sensed rather than saw a movement behind him.
He turned to look round. One of the superlocusts was on the point of swallowing a large pumpkin. Two other superlocusts
were showing an interest. Bond punched the air in delight. They were taking the bait! Another three superlocusts
joined the others. Bond gently pressed his foot on the accelerator and started the two mile journey down the tunnel.
He checked in the rear view mirror. All the superlocusts were following, like so many sheep.
Bond settled into the journey, driving just far enough to keep clear of the superlocusts,
not wanting the nearest of them to gobble up the bait before he’d lured them all the way back down to the cavern,
where they would either be blown up by the bombs or drowned in the aftermath. Ten miles an hour turned out to be
the right speed, fast enough to keep them at bay, slow enough to keep them interested. Twelve minutes later Bond
entered the cavern. By now it was absolutely seething with the superlocusts, with very few of them not yet fully
grown.
